Colored Stone Engagement Rings Are Crazy Popular Among Millennials

Here's why we've been seeing more colorful stones as of late

Sorry Marilyn, but as it turns out, diamonds are not always a girl's best friend. Well, at least not according to millennials, anyway... Over the past couple of years, it appears that to-be-wed millennials have been ditching the standard crystal-clear diamond stone and opting for colored stone engagement rings in a rainbow of hues. Emeralds, rubies, sapphires, and opals have been trending among this youthful crowd and the #engagementringselfies flooding our Instagram feeds. Here's why we're seeing more and more colored stone engagement rings popping up in popped questions.

For a myriad of financial, ethical, and stylistic reasons, millennials are exploring ring options that go beyond the traditional diamond. Instead of shelling out for a hefty diamond with a carat count that could rival Hailey Baldwin's super-sized sparkler, millennial couples are opting to put that cash toward a house, having children, or an epic honeymoon. As The Telegraph reported last year, instead of spending two-to-three months salary on a ring—which has long been considered the norm—couples are spending just an average of £573 (about $700) on engagement rings in the U.K., which makes less expensive, colored stones an excellent option.

"The great thing about colored stones is that you can buy something really fabulous-looking and most people will have no idea how much it cost," explained jewelry expert Joanna Hardy to the British daily. "This is a big selling point for people who perhaps don't have as much to spend on a ring and don't want others to know exactly what they've spent on it."

And with many millennials pushing for ethical shopping options, there's been a move away from the traditional clear stone (anyone remember Blood Diamond?) in favor of more ethically-sourced gems. For example, designer Chopard offers "traceable" emeralds especially for eco-conscious consumers, according to The Telegraph.

Gaining major traction among the fashionable set, not only do colorful engagement rings tote a much friendlier price tag, but they also offer much more opportunity for a little self-expression. Brides are able to show off their individuality with beautiful blue, gorgeous green, and romantic red hues, with some getting even more personal by choosing their own birthstone as their engagement bling. "It's more personal, rather than the ego thing of showing everyone how big your diamond is," Nikolay Piriankov of custom jewelry design company Taylor & Hart told The Guardian.

Photo by Katie Grant

The trend is expected to continue into 2019 with even more brides opting for colorful bling. “Our 2019 brides are incorporating color in new and interesting ways,” jewelry designer Stephanie Gottlieb tells Brides. “I created a ruby design as my ‘push present’ when my son was born this past summer, and brides can’t get enough of it!”

Jewelry designer Selin Kent has also noticed the shift in shades. “A recent bride-to-be fell in love with the teal green color of tourmaline, loving both the unique color and irregular shape,” she tells Brides. “She loved that no one else would have a ring like hers!”

With celebs such as Jessica Simpson, Halle Berry, Eva Longoria, and even royalty (like Princess Eugenie and Kate Middleton) all toting engagement bling with colorful stones, millennials are certainly in good company.